Making a List and Checking it Twice– Gifts for Teens & Millennials

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Gifts for Teens and Millennials

It is that time of year when you start to panic. Just a little.

You begin to realize that Christmas is EXACLTY one month away and you have barely started your Christmas shopping (and what you do have are gifts that your wonderful husband or store-adverse son are going to give you because they will likely leave their shopping to the last minute… O.K. I digress).  It is that time when you have to start taking into consideration what your kids may want.  It may be easy for some.  You did the old “let’s write a letter to Santa and tell him what you want for Christmas” trick.  I loved that old standby… used that tricks for years.  It worked like a charm until one year when it backfired… I remember the day I had to call someone at my husband’s work because he had gotten a toaster in a gift exchange (yes, apparent they have Santa wish lists there too). NOOOOOOOO, I cried.  You don’t understand, that is THE ONLY THING HE PUT ON HIS LIST FOR SANTA… so that is the ONLY thing I can get him…. You don’t understand… He can’t get a toaster from YOU… he has to get it from Saannnnttttaaaa. Take it back, take that damn toaster back to where it came and get him a tie because SANTA is getting him THE TOASTER.  I still have nightmares about that moment in time.

So you can see, why I would be in a bit of a panic when I have to come up with fun and interesting gifts to give my husband and my children.  I thought it was easy when the kids were little.  A train set, a Groovy Girl, a pair of skis even.  But alas, those kidlettes have grown and now they require other things…shiny… baubles and laptops with bling.  So I cleverly did a recognisance with my favourite teens and millenials to find out what they want… what they really, really want for Christmas.

What Teens Want for Christmas_@DownshiftingPRO

I asked these young women what they wanted for Christmas.  Of course they thought this was some sort of plot that their lame parents came up with to find out what they wanted. If, however, you had a secret gift exchange or were NOT their parents but wanted to pick something up… this list may be useful to you.    [Full disclosure, I promised them nothing, including telling their parents what they really wanted.]  I honestly was taking a survey for this post so there might be some disappointed teens and millenials on Christmas morning – I’m just warning you kids!  Now, if their parents read the blog and asked me who wanted what… I might just tell them…Auntie Sandy…*cough*

Without further ado the list of what teens and millenials (most of which are students)want for Christmas.

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Food & Beverage  choices

  • gift cards from grocery stores
  • LCBO (or your local liquor store) gift cards (clearly for those that are of legal drinking age 19 here in Ontario).
  • fast food restaurants (McDonald’s, Starbucks, Subway, Thai plus)
  • Nicer restaurants (Milestones, Kelsey’s, Jack Astor’s)

Practical (not a popular category, I might add)

  • bras
  • PJs
  • Winter Boots
  • Hats & Gloves
  • socks (that is my choice not theirs)

Books & Travel

  • Travel Guide Books
  • Journals
  • Simple language books
  • Novels set in different countries
  • Toiletry Bags
  • Travel Knapsacks
  • Packing Cubes

Beauty and Travel Books What Teens Want for Christmas_@DownshiftingPROLanguage Books_What Teens Want for Christmas_@DownshiftingPROMoleskins Journals_What Teens Want for Christmas_@DownshiftingPRO

Beauty

Sephora gift cards

  • Roller Perfumes or Scents
  • Sephora Favourites
  • Love Blush
  • A box o Mascaras

SephoraWhat Teens Want for Christmas_@DownshiftingPRO

Lush

  • face masks
  • soaps
  • bath bombs

Lush Soaps_What Teens Want for Christmas_@DownshiftingPRO

  • Massage
  • Manicures & Pedicures (my suggestion)
  • Facial
  • Hair cut or colour (think highlights and purple hair… don’t  ask).

Jean Jackets & Sweaters_The Gap_What Teens Want for Christmas_@DownshiftingPRO

Fashion

The Gap (or American Eagle, American Apparel)

  • Jean Jackets
  • Funky Sweaters
  • Jeans
  • Scarves
  • Phone case

Anthropologie

  • Earrings
  • Hair Accessories
  • Monogram Mugs
  • Scented Candles

Anthropologie_What Teens want for Christmas_@DownshiftingPRO

  • Accessories (Scarves, belts, hats, gloves)
  • Jewellery
  • Earrings from Kate Spade Winking smile
  • Blundstone Boots

Blundstone Boots_What Teens want for Christmas_@DownshiftingPRO

The BIG ticket items

  • Apple Mac Pro
    • a laptop case
    • speakers
    • Apple Care
  • Apple Watch
  • A new Phone
  • A Go Pro (Action camera)
  • Beatssolo Wireless Headphones
  • UE speakers
  • First luxury purse from Kate Spade
  • VISA Gift Cards

Electronics_What Teens Want for Christmas_@DownshiftingPRO

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Christmas is a special time of year.  For the most part, we don’t buy our children gifts throughout the year.  We buy them what they need for school or work or to survive as a student in another city.  We enjoy surprising them when we can and sometimes just give gift cards when we can’t.  We also provide gift receipts.  You never know if the size is wrong or the colour is not right.  I am not ever offended if people bring back a gift and get something else.  I understand how hard it can be to get the right thing.  This list has everything on it from high ticket ‘dream wishlist’ items to small thoughtful gifts.  It is never easy to shop for teens because they want to define themselves and their individual style.  You will never go wrong with a gift card but there are plenty of ideas here that may knock it out of the park for you.  Good luck and happy shopping!

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Margarita Ibbott is a travel and lifestyle blogger. She blogs about travel in Canada, the United States and Europe giving practical advice through restaurant, hotel and attraction reviews. She writes for DownshiftingPRO.com and other online media outlets.